Crank-fastening for bicycles



(No Model) S. W. HYATT.

GRANK PASTBNING PoR BIGYGLBS.

l No. 582,530. Patented May 11,-189'11 cams Pneus ca. Punto-uma. WASHINGTON u c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL IV. HYATT, OF GREERSVILLE, OHIO.

CRANK-FAS'IIENING FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,530, dated May 1 1, 1897.

Application led January 6, 1896. Serial No. 574,462. (No model.)

To all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. HYATT,a citizen of the United States, residing at Greersville, in the countyof Knox and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Crank-Fastening forBicycles, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to an improvement in bicycles, and refers particularly to the means for securing and dctaching the cranks thereof.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of coupling by means of which the opposing cranks and the divided portions of the crank-axle formed integrally with the crank may be united within the crank-axle box and readily disconnected and removed when occasion requires.

The invention also has for its object to adjust the bearing or take up wear therein simultaneously with the coupling or fastening of the cranks. A

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel fea-` tures and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally embodied in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle crank-axle box, illustrating the application of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through said box. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the shaft-sections and its crankshowing also the adjusting-coneA and crank-fastening device. Fig. 4 shows the end formation of the other shaft-section in perspective. Fig. 5 is a crosssection through the interlocking ends of the shaft-sections. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the tongued washer. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the operating spanner and wrench.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the crank-axle box of a bicycle, which is in the form of a hollow cylinder and provided at each end with rigidly-attached ball-cups 2, in which are mounted the usual antifrictionballs 3. The crank-axle is divided centrally or in proximal relation to its center and comprises two sections 4 and 5, each of which has formed upon or attached to its outer end one of the machine-cranks 6. These shaft-sections are inserted in the bearing-box from opposite ends, and the contiguous inner `ends of said sections are each cut away in such manner as to leave semicylindrical lapping portions 7, which taken together or lapped one upon the other form a complete cylinder, as shown in Fig. 5. One of such overlapping semicylindrical ends has extending. longitudinally of its flat surface a tongue or rib 8, and the contiguous end of the adjoining section is provided in its corresponding flat surface with a longitudinal groove or depression 9, in which the said tongue or rib is received, as clearly shown in the last-named ligure. The interlocking inner ends of the shaft-sections are so disposed with relation to the cranks 6 that the latter will project in opposite directions when the shaft-sections are clutched or interlocked.

One of the shaft-sections 5 carries the fixed sprocket-wheel 10, which comprises a number of spokes or a web 1l and a rim 12, detachably secured thereto, the said rim having inwardly extending ears 13, through which suitable screws or fastening devices 14 extend into the spokes or web 1l. This construction provides for the removal of the rim without the necessity of detaching the cranks in case the rim becomes injured or broken and admits of the substitution of a new rim.

15 designates a sleeve which surrounds and incloses the interlocked ends of the shaft-sections and is secured to the sprocket-wheel 10 by means of screws or other fastenings 16, whereby the sleeve is caused to rotatewith the sprocket-wheel and forms in effect a part thereof. The sleeve 15 also carries a ballcone 17, forming a seat for the antifrictionballs 3 at that side of the bearing. The opposite end of the sleeve 15 is hollowed out, as at 18, and internally screw-threaded to receive the threaded inner end of an adjustingcone 19. This adjusting-cone is provided with a central bore, and the same is screwthreaded, so that it may be screwed upon and adjusted longitudinally of the shaft-section 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The antifric- IOCu shaft-section 4 and its engagement also with the sleeve 15, it will be seen that the shaftsections will be firmly coupled together and i prevented from longitudinal displacement.

In order to prevent the unscrewing of the adjusting-cone 19,the shaft-section i is formed With a longitudinal groove 20, and a Washer 21 surrounds said shaft and is provided with an inwardly-extending tongue 22, which enters the `groove 20, Wherebysaid Washer is prevented from rotating or turning upon the sl1a'ft,"v"vhile being permitted to'slide-.longitudfinally thereof. An annular nut 23 also surrounds the shaft-section 4 Aoutside of the Washer`21, and both the nut 23 and adjustingcone 19 are provided in their exterior surfaces withdiametrically-opposed sockets 24 forthe 'reception of the pins or studs 25 of a Wren ch or Spanner 26, whereby the same may be adjusted. After the adjusting-cone has beenturned tothe desired position thewasher 21 is Aslid loi'igitudinally into `contact there- With and the nut 23 then screwed inward with sufficient force to bind the'same rmly against Tthe :said washer, thereby forming an efficient nut-lock 4for-preventing-the unscrewingof the adjustingeeone 19. Vhen it isdesired Ito detach the-cranks, with theaidof the spanneror `Wrench the 'nut 23 is unserewed, the'washer 21 is slid outward, and the adjusting-cone 19 unscrewed until it is disconneeted from `the sleeve 15, whereupon the shaft-sections with their attached cranks are capable of being niovedout'ofengagement as to their^contiguous inner endsand entirely removed from the crank-axle box. p

Fromthe foregoing description it will be apparent that-a very simple and efficient device is obtained, providing for the removal of the cranks when necessary, and that Wear may be taken up in the bearing simultaneously with the coupling together of the shaftsections on the cranks.

It Will be observed that when the cranks and their shaft-sections are detached from the machine the coupling and adjusting means are removed with them, and there are consequently no nuts or other parts to become lost or misplaced. l

lIt Will be apparent that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacriiicing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In a'crank-fastenin'g for cycles, the eombination Withthe crank-axle boX,of `a crank-'axle vmade in separate sections each of which carries a crank at its outer end, the contiguous ends of said sections being formed to-interlock, a sprocket-'wheel fast-on one of said sections, a sleeve secured to said sprocket and surrounding said section and also embracingfa portion-of the othersection, an adlj ustingecone having a threaded engagement with vsaid other section and with the sleeve7 :a "slidewasher onlsaid section having a .tongue-'andgroove engagement'therewith and arranged outside of the ad justing-cone, anda jam-nut on said section 'arranged outside of lsaid washer and adaptedto be screwed up against the same, whereby the adj Listing-concis prevented from unscrewing, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixed `my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL IV. HYATT.

Witnesses ADAM STITZLIM, IDA C. HYATT. 

